🔥 Trending Norway Football Coach: Who is Ståle Solbakken?

The current head coach of the Norway national football team is Ståle Solbakken ². He was appointed to this role and is responsible for leading the team, including their participation in major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup 2026 ³.

Ståle Solbakken's Background and Career

Solbakken, born on February 27, 1968, has a notable career both as a player and a manager ².

Playing Career

During his playing days, Solbakken was recognized as the Norwegian Midfielder of the Year in 1995 ². He was also part of the Norway squad that participated in EURO 2000 ⁷. A significant event in his life occurred in 2001 when he suffered a heart attack that caused his heart to stop for seven minutes ⁴. Despite this life-threatening incident, he recovered and continued his journey in football.

Managerial Career

Solbakken transitioned into management and has coached various teams before taking on the national role. His appointment as the head coach of the Norway national team has brought them back into the spotlight, particularly with their qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 ³⁵. He is notably the first manager to guide Norway to the FIFA World Cup since Egil Olsen in 1998 ². As of July 2026, he has selected the 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 ³.